(Photo by Dave Hill's Racing Images)
Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (July 22, 2024) – Kaleb Johnson tied his season-best result at Knoxville Raceway last Saturday when he produced a fourth-place finish while making his debut driving for Aaron Long.
Johnson qualified ninth quickest in the 410ci winged sprint car division before he advanced from fourth to second place in a heat race. He then gained a spot in the main event to earn his eighth total top five of the season.
“I was very pleased with it,” he said. “We qualified pretty average. We fine-tuned the car all night and got me more comfortable. The heat race went pretty well, especially with how the track was. It stayed wet, which is unusual for Knoxville. In the feature I fell back a spot early, but worked my way back into the top five and got up to fourth. I thought for our first night it went pretty well.”
Johnson also competed in the 360ci winged sprint car division for Dennis Gainey. He was sixth quickest in his qualifying group and moved from fifth to fourth place in a heat race, earning the night starting spot in the A Main.
“I feel we qualified decent for going out in the later portion of the group,” he said. “In the feature we started ninth and stayed there the first few laps before we had a red. After the next restart the guy in front of me hopped a wheel. It sent him straight up the track and I had nowhere to go and away we went. It was the wrong place at the wrong time type of thing.”
The collision resulted in Johnson flipping, ending his night early with a 21st-place finish.
This week will showcase four straight nights of racing with Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minn., hosting a Gunderson Racing Inc. Midwest Sprint Touring Series 360 Sprint Cars show on Thursday before the Merle Johnson Memorial 410 Border Battle presented by New Fashion Pork on Friday featuring the Midwest Sprint Touring Series 410 Sprint Cars. Johnson will then pilot a car for Gainey on Saturday at Knoxville Raceway before heading to Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D., on Sunday. He enters the night leading the track’s championship standings.
“I’m looking forward to the busy weekend,” he said. “I feel we had a good run at Jackson this year so hopefully we can build on that and put together some solid finishes there. I’m really excited for Friday’s race since it’s in honor of my grandpa. Saturday will be our last time at Knoxville prior to the 360 Nationals so hopefully we can get dialed in. And we’ve been consistent at Huset’s so the goal is to put together another solid night there.”
QUICK RESULTS –
July 20 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa (410 sprint car) – Qualifying: 9; Heat race: 2 (4); Feature: 4 (5).
July 20 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa (360 sprint car) – Qualifying: 6; Heat race: 4 (5); Feature: 21 (9).
SEASON STATS –
26 races, 0 wins, 8 top fives, 19 top 10s, 21 top 15s, 21 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Thursday and Friday at Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minn., with the Gunderson Racing Inc. Midwest Sprint Touring Series 360 Sprint Cars and the Midwest Sprint Touring Series 410 Sprint Cars; Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa; and Sunday at Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D., for The Border Battle
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.kalebjohnsonracing.com/
X: https://twitter.com/Kaleb___Johnson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KalebJohnsonRacing22
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Folkens Brothers Trucking
Folkens Brothers Trucking is a livestock hauling service with headquarters in Lester, Iowa. The company has been running since 1979. For more information, visit http://www.FolkensBros.com.
“I feel very honored to have the support of Folkens Brothers Trucking,” Johnson said. “To look at a list of the drivers they’ve supported over the years, it’s an honor to be aligned with them. We’re very appreciative and looking forward to earning success together.”
Johnson would like to thank Merle Johnson Farm Toys, Oddson Underground, Inc., Folkens Brothers Trucking, Blondie Motorsports, Construction Products & Consultants, GRP Motorsports, Innovative Design/Sletten Properties, Cressman Sanitation, State Bank of Fairmont, AB Custom Construction, Specialized Caulking Sealants, The Minnesota Mafia, Guaranteed Rate-Mike Brudigan Home Loans, The Ron Weber Team, David Kramer Drywall, Big Al’s Diecast, Heartland Properties, Dave’s Lawn Care & Landscaping, TL Racing, Hepfner Racing Products, TJ Forged Wheels, Howe Motorsports, Moyle Racing Engines, FID Media, Team DGRD and Hefty Seed Company for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
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- Shawn Miller on Jul 22, 2024
- Article Date: 7/22/2024 by Inside Line Promotions